17 Jan AA&F Morning Paper

Friday, January 17, 2025

1899 - The gunboat Bennington (PG-4) arrives at the desolate Wake Island in the central Pacific. Its commanding officer, Commander Edward D. Taussig, Class of 1867, claims the island for the United States.

 

1955 - LTjg Robert Fontenot '53, USN was lost when his jet training aircraft crashed near Corpus Christi. He was survived by his wife, 2-month-old daughter, parents, and two sisters.

1991 - On the first day of the Gulf War, nine Navy ships in the Arabian Gulf and Red Sea launch 122 Tomahawk cruise missiles. The guided missile cruiser San Jacinto (CG-56) fires the first Tomahawk from the Red Sea, while the guided missile cruiser Bunker Hill (CG-52) fires the first Tomahawk from the Persian Gulf. Ironically, San Jacinto was the name of the light aircraft carrier from which President George H.W. Bush flew while serving as a naval aviator during World War II.

ACADEMY & GRADUATE HAPPENINGS

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro announced Jan. 16, USS McClung (LSM 1) as the name for the first ship in the new McClung-class of medium landing ships. “The Landing Ship Medium (LSM) will be an asset to the Marine Corps' amphibious capabilities, designed to greatly enhance operational flexibility and combat readiness,” said Del Toro. “I am honored to name the first ship in this class after Major McClung, a selfless leader and hero who embodied the highest ideals of service, honor, and loyalty to our nation.” Honors U.S. Naval Academy graduate and Public Affairs Officer Major Megan M.L. McClung '95, USMC, who was killed in action while serving in Iraq. This will be the first Navy vessel to bear her name.

Welcome to another great episode of the Sing Second podcast. We bring you the stories and happenings at the Naval Academy and the Naval Academy Alumni Association and Foundation (AA&F). We have quite the episode this week. SecNav spent his final weeks in office naming ships and Making farewell addresses. Chris and John discuss the '83 alum's legacy and contributions to his alma mater in 3.5 years in the SecNav seat. One ship naming was naming the new class of Landing Ship Medium (LMS) after Megan McClung '95. Megan was a Marine Corps PAO who became the first female USNA alum to die in battle in 2006. Chris and John talk to Megan's mother, Re, and her brother, Michael, about Megan's legacy and this very special honor. And we wrap up the Week of Gratitude by chatting with Travis Galaska from the Foundation. We like to introduce the listeners to the hard working team at AA&F, and Travis is a pure teammate. He chats about Week of Gratitude and the Foundation's efforts to connect and support our alumni. We also chat about online availability of Shipmate Magazine and some potential additions to our podcast empire. Beat Army...always.

Almost a decade has past since the death of U.S. Marine Maj. Megan M. McClung but her legacy continues to grow with every year since her passing in 2006. The phone call came on an average Wednesday to the Public Affairs Office at Camp Fallujah, Iraq. The news was devastating to our close-knit team as we were nearing the end of a yearlong deployment with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward) in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. McClung, was the first female Marine officer to be killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as the first female graduate of the United States Naval Academy to be killed in action since the school was founded in 1845.

Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro '83 delivered his farewell address to midshipmen, faculty, and staff at the United States Naval Academy on Jan. 13. A 1983 USNA graduate, Secretary Del Toro's visit during the final week of his tenure reflects his deep ties to the institution that helped shape his career and dedication to service.

GOVERNMENT & MILITARY NEWS

Del Toro emphasizes need for innovation, autonomy in final speech as Navy secretary. 

The Navy and Marine Corps must continue to focus on fostering innovation by investing in emerging technologies, specifically uncrewed systems, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro '83 said in his final public appearance in the role Jan. 15. The Navy's challenge is maintaining naval superiority and ensuring that warfighters are prepared to confront evolving threats, especially those posed by China in advanced technology, maritime claims and military modernization. “Much like President Kennedy's recognition of the need for [a] modernized nuclear deterrent, today's Navy and Marine Corps must continue to adapt, leveraging both manned and unmanned capabilities to counter the People's Republic of China's growing naval and technological advances,” Del Toro said in a keynote speech at the Surface Navy Association's 37th National Symposium.

Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro '83  named four more warships on Wednesday at the annual Surface Navy Association symposium. Del Toro named three Flight III Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers and one Constellation-class guided-missile frigate. Those ships are the future USS Ray Mabus (DDG-147), USS Kyle Carpenter (DDG-148), and USS Robert R. Ingram (DDG-149) and USS Everett Alvarez Jr. (FFG-68). “Everywhere that these ships sail it will represent the legacies of these four leaders and heroes who placed country over self and service above all else,” Del Toro said at the symposium. Del Toro has named 16 ships in the last two weeks as his time as the Navy's top civilian ends next week.

LOCAL, EDUCATION & OTHER ACADEMY NEWS

Navy Athletics launches new Navy Letterwinners Association. 

Naval Academy Director of Athletics Chet Gladchuk announced today the launching of the Navy Letterwinners Association. The mission of the Navy Letterwinners Association is to connect past varsity and club sports athletes to the United States Naval Academy, and to each other, by honoring their accomplishments and providing meaningful engagement in support of Navy Athletics. "Under Rob Friedrich's leadership, we have established a full speed ahead approach to engaging with thousands of alumni who have represented the blue and gold over decades on the fields of competition," said Gladchuk. "Bringing our letterwinners home through enhanced regular communication and programming will effectively bridge our storied past with today's midshipmen. This initiative will definitely complement our vision for exciting future relationships and an amazing network of resources. Full speed ahead!" The Navy Letterwinners Association will be sending out monthly e-newsletters to all Navy alumni athletes and will have a designated page on navysports.com.

Bill Belichick's first coaching staff at North Carolina continues to come together. Longtime NFL special teams coach Mike Priefer '89 and veteran SEC offensive line coach Will Friend are expected to finalize deals to join Belichick's staff, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. After coaching for nearly a decade in college, Priefer moved to the NFL in 2002 and was a special teams coordinator from 2006 to 2022.  Priefer was the special teams coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs (2006-08), Denver Broncos (2009-10), Minnesota Vikings (2011-18) and Browns (2019-22). He brings ties to the Naval Academy, something he shares with Belichick and his family. Priefer is a Navy graduate and served as a graduate assistant there.

NAVAL ACADEMY ATHLETICS NEWS & RESULTS

Weekend Matchups

Men's Tennis at Penn - Philadelphia, Pa. - 9:30 a.m.

Men's Track & Field vs Wesley Brown Invitational - Annapolis, Md. - 4 p.m.

Women's Track & Field vs Wesley Brown Invitational - Annapolis, Md. - 4 p.m.

Men's Squash vs Connecticut College - Middletown, Conn. - 6:30 p.m.

Wrestling v No. 21 Lehigh - Annapolis, Md. - 7:30 p.m.

 

Men's Tennis v St. Bonaventure - Annapolis, Md. - 8 a.m.

Rifle at West Virginia - Morgantown, W.Va. - 9 a.m.

Men's Track & Field vs Wesley Brown Invitational - Annapolis, Md. - 9:30 a.m.

Women's Track & Field vs Wesley Brown Invitational - Annapolis, Md. - 9:30 a.m.

Men's Squash at Wesleyan - Middletown, Conn. - 10 a.m.

Women's Tennis v St. Bonaventure - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Men's Lacrosse v Georgetown (scrimmage) - Annapolis, Md. - 11 a.m.

Men's Lacrosse v Virginia Military Institute (Scrimmage) - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Women's Basketball v Bucknell - Annapolis, Md. - 1 p.m.

Men's Gymnastics v Navy Open - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Women's Tennis v Saint Francis - Annapolis, Md. - 2 p.m.

Men's Basketball at Bucknell - Lewisburg, Pa. - 4 p.m.

Wrestling v Harvard - Annapolis, Md. - 5 p.m.

Men's Tennis v Saint Francis U. - Annapolis, Md. - 5 p.m.

USNA AND AA&F EVENTS

JANUARY

23 Jan - AA&F Women's Health Webinar - Zoom - 7 p.m. EST

 

FEBRUARY

6 Feb - USNA Ship Selection

15 Feb - Commissioning Week 101, Fluegel

21 Feb - 85th Brigade Boxing Finals

21 Feb - Louisville Chapter + NAPC of Kentucky Roadshow – Louisville, KY (**in support of Navy Men's Gymnastics competing at the Winter Cup Feb 21-23)

22 Feb - Indianapolis Chapter + NAPC of Indiana Roadshow – Fishers, IN)

23 Feb  Cincinnati Chapter + NAPC of Greater Cincinnati Roadshow – West Chester, OH

24 Feb  Columbus Chapter + NAPC of Central Ohio Roadshow – Dublin, OH

27 Feb - Naval Academy Entrepreneurs event, Fluegel, 5 - 9 p.m.

27 Feb - Astronaut Convocation, USNA

 

MARCH

7-16 Mar - USNA Spring Break

12-13 Mar - SACC Atlanta

21 Mar - Distinguished Graduate Award Ceremony and Dinner, USNA (T)

22 Mar - Distinguished Graduate Leadership Panel, Mahan, USNA

27-29 Mar - Naval Academy Minority Association, (NAMA) Leadership Forum

30-31 Mar - Volunteer Leader Summit

 

APRIL

5 Apr - Annapolis Cup - USNA v St. John's Croquet Match

10-12 Apr - Class of 1955 - 70th Reunion

11 Apr - Athletic & Scholarship Programs Spring Meeting - Fluegel Alumni Center

24 Apr - AA&F Vietnam Legacy of Valor Series Speaker Event - FAC

24-27 Apr - Class of 1970 - 55th Reunion

25 Apr - Council of Class Presidents Spring Meeting, Fluegel, TBD

25 Apr - USNA Dedication Parade, Worden Field

30 Apr - USNA Capstone Day

30 Apr - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Welcome Reception

 

MAY

1 May - USNA Foundation Spring Board of Directors Meeting, Fluegel

6-8 May - Class of 1957 - 70th Reunion

7-9 May - USNA Alumni Association Spring Board of Trustees Meeting, Fluegel

8-9 May - SACC Washington DC

14 May - Class of 2028 Herndon Climb

21 May - Blue Angels CFR Event - Hospital Point, USNA

22 May - Color Parade, Worden Field

22 May - USNA Prizes & Awards, Alumni Hall, 2 p.m.

23 May - Class of 2025 Graduation and Commissioning Ceremony, NMCMS

 

25 Jun - Athletic & Scholarship Program Pre-I Day Reception, Fluegel

26 Jun - USNA Induction Day, Class of 2029